Extension-table



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. BRODIN. EXTENSION TABLE. 7 No. 542,139. Patented July 2, 1895.

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A. BRODIN. EXTENSION TABLE.

No. 542,139. Patented July 2, 1895.

I U ITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL BRODIN, OF WARREN, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,139, dated July 2,1895.

Application filed April 10, 1895.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AXEL BRODIN, a citizen of Sweden, who has declaredhis intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing atWarren, in the county of Warren and State of Pennsylvania, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Extension- Tables, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to that class of extension-tables whereinflexible table-top sections at the ends of the table are extended orretracted by shifting the end legs in such manner that when the end legsare moved toward each other the flexible table-top sections traverseguideways and pass around and under the end leg-frames, while if theleg-frames be moved away from each other the flexible table-top sectionsare extended to increase the size of the table-top.

The object of my invention is to provide a newand improved constructionof flexible table-top sections and guideways for the same on the endleg-frames, whereby the flexible sections 'work smoothly and are moreeasily extended or retracted to vary the dimensions of the tabletop.

To accomplish this object my invention consists, essentially, in thecombination, with an end leg-frame having its side pieces each providedwith a guideway composed of upper and lower portions connected by aswitch portion, of a rotary disk or wheel journaled on each side pieceand having its periphery lying entirely between the outer edges of theupper, lower, and switch portions of the guidewayin such side piece, anda flexible taple-top section composed of connected slats having endantifriction-rollers and resting upon the peripheries of the rotarydisks or wheels to traverse the spaces between the peripheries of saiddisks or wheels and the outer edges of the upper, lower, and switchportions of the guideways.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanyings drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of sufficient of an'extension-table to illustrate my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig, 3 is a detail perspective view ofone of the side pieces of an endleg-frame. Fig. 4 is a detail Serial No.545,199. (No model.)

perspective .view of a portion of the flexible table-top section. Fig. 5is a detail perspective view of one of the side pieces of an end frame,showing a modification in the construction of the guideway. Fig. 6 is adetail perspective view of a portion of aflexible table-top section,showing a modified con-- In order to enable those skilled in the art tomake and use my invention, Iwill now describe the same in detail,referring to the drawings, wherein- The numeral 1 indicates a stationarytabletop panel, which will be a center panel it the extension-table isadjustable at both ends,'

and 2 indicates a movable leg-frame provided with vertical side pieces3, each having a curved guideway composed of upper and lower horizontalgrooves 4 and 5, arranged parallel to each other and connected by acircular groove -6, which constitutes a switch.

The side pieces are each provided with a rotary disk or wheel 7,journaled on a pivot 8, from the center of which the circular groovedswitch portion 6 of the guideway is struck.

The lower edge of the upper curved portion4 is provided with alaterally-projecting horizontal supportingstrip 9, having one endbeveled or cut away, as at 10, so that it can lie quite close to theperiphery of the disk or wheel 8 without actually touching andinterfering with the rotary motion of the same.

The flexible table-top section is composed of a series of contiguousslats 12, each formed at one edge with a concave seat 13 and at theopposite edge with a convex portion 14, so that the slats may be turnedand move upon one another in a manner similar to knuckle-joints. Theslats are also provided with upper and lower angular or V-shaped notches15 and 16, co-operating with angular or V-shaped portions 17 and 18, sothat the turning motions of the slats are confined within certainlimits, and when the table-top is extended the slats accurately fitoneanother and produce a smooth level surface, so that the accumulation ofcrumbs and other foreign matter is effectually prevented at the jointsof the slats.

The slats are each provided at its ends with antifriction-rollers 19,mounted on spindles 20, which may be composed of ordinary metal screwsscrewed into the ends of the slats. A metallic washer 21 is arrangedbetween each antifriction-roller 19 and the end of the slat tofacilitate the rotary motion of the antifriction-roller. Theantifriction-rollers 19 project from the ends of the slats and enterinto and traverse the grooves forming the guideways in the side piecesof the end legframe of the table. The ends of the slats composing theflexible table-top section rest upon, are supported by, and slide alongthe laterally-proj ecting supporting-strips 9, which form continuationsof the lower edges of the upper grooved portions t of the guideway.

The slats composing the flexible table-top section are strung upon wireor other cables having yielding connections with the center panel of theextension-table, substantially as described and shown in Letters PatentNo. 72,881.

When the end leg-frame is shifted to or from the center panel of theextension-table,

the antifriction-rollers at the ends of the slats composing the flexibletable-top section roll smoothly against theupper or outer edges of thegrooves constituting the grooved guideway in each side piece of the endleg-frame. By this means the flexible sections are made to work verysmoothly, and the table is more easily extended or retracted to vary thedimensions of the table-top.

In the modified construction, Fig. 5, the guideway on each side piece ofthe end legframe is composed of horizontal parallel laterally-projectingflanges 22 and 23 connected by a circular switch portion 24: and anattached strip 25, which, in connection with the upper flange 22,constitutes a groove 26. In

this form of guide-way the ends of the slats are constructed withoverhanging flanges 27,

which rest upon the upper or outer surfaces of the flanges 22 and 23,while the antifriction-rollers 28, journaled on the ends of the slats,ride against the inner or under surfaces of the guide -flanges. Therotary disk or wheel 29, Fig. 5, is journaled, substantially ashereinbefore explained with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, so that it liesbetween the upper and lower flanges 22 and 23, and the curved switchportion 24 encircles the disk or wheel in such manner that as theflexible table-top section is extended or retracted the ends of theflexibly-connected slats are supported by and move freely around andwith the disks or wheels.

In the modification, Fig. 7, the antifrictionrollers are journaled uponeyed studs 30, secured in position by screws 31, passing through theeyes of the studs into the slats.

In the modification, Fig. 9, the antifrictiourollers are journaled uponshanks 32 held in recesses in the slats through the medium of staples tHaving thus described my invention, what I claim is- The combinationwith an end leg frame having its side pieces each provided with aguideway composed of upper, and lower guide portions connected by aguiding switch portion, of a rotary disk or wheel journaled on each sidepiece and having its periphery lying entirely between the outer edges ofthe upper, lower, and switch portions of the guideway of such sidepiece, and a flexible tabletop section composed of connected slatshaving end anti-friction rollers and resting upon the peripheries of therotary disks or wheels to traverse the spaces between the peripheries ofthe said disks orwheels and the outer edges of the upper, lower, andswitch portions of the guide-ways, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and aifixed my seal inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

AXEL BRODIN. [L. 8.] lVitnesses:

ALBERT F. PETERSON, CHARLES A. PETERSON.

